| Garages accused of MoT scam |
| Thursday, 09 August 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Garages are ripping off customers by using the MoT test as a front to create more service and repair work. Car Parts Direct claims some garages are making it harder to pass the test and are charging customers for unnecessary work.  The parts company said motorists that failed to prepare for an MoT risked being charged for work that was not required and paying over the odds for repairs to avoid a second test. "Slur on the industry"The motor industry has reacted angrily to the claims.
Trade association the RMIF said Car Parts Direct had presented a distorted view of the relationship between the MoT and the work performed around it by garages.
“The suggestion that the garage trade is ripping off customers by creating additional work for itself through MOT test is a slur on the industry, and also devalues the hugely positive effect that the test has on the UK's road safety,” said Ray Holloway, director of independent membership for the RMIF.
“Considering that 32 per cent of vehicles fail the MOT test every year, where would we be without it in road safety terms?” he added.
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Comments (15)
Amli mian
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The number of times ... The number of times my "head lights needed adjusting" during an MOT is unbeleivable. OF course you and I the avergae motorists can never challenge this as only a machine can measure the light and they use this excuse to make another 20-30 on top of an MOT. I agree they are a rip off. Perhaps there should be a trade body who can regulate these ripoff merchants. How about naming and shaming these people. |
mark Cornwall
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I read with interest... I read with interest Ash's comment in this Forum. a*suming what Ash has said is true, this is a man who has lost his job because he refused to fail a Car. Others in the industry know it's happening and prefer to turn a blind eye – this is nearly as bad as doing the crime.(Theft) Action should be taken to protect the public, this was the reason for my newspaper comments that started forum subject. If I found one of the staff at Car Parts Direct stealing from a customer they would not only be dismissed, I would do everything possible to ensure they were prosecuted. Ash, if your colleagues in the Garage industry (including the hush-hush MOT tester on this Forum) won't do anything to help your incident or bring this subject in to the open - I will. Feel free to contact me via the www.Carparts-direct.co.uk website. a*suming you are qualified, it would also be a pleasure to recommend someone like you to carry out repairs in your area. I'll supply the website space and host it for you for free if you decide to work for yourself.Good luck in any event - at least you can sleep at night. |
Ash
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I am also a mot test... I am also a mot tester and have been for quite some time.I agree totally that some garages are using mot's to create more work by failing cars that should have pa*sed.I lost my job a few days ago when I refused to fail cars if there wasn't anything wrong with them.This does'nt just happen at small garages but also at major company with very good reputation.And someone needs to do something about it,sooner rather than later. |
mark Cornwall
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Colin, read the comm... Colin, read the comments above from Dawn who left the message and the member who had his air intake blocked to increase garage income. I repeat, again most MOT testers and garages are genuine honest traders.SOME are NOT. These traders should be reported and avoided. It is in everyone's interest, especially the motorist.If bringing to light rogue practices by some garages means losing their business then that's the price Car Parts Direct is prepared to pay - to ignore what happens is to condone it.Question, How would you feel if your wife was charged for work that was not required? |
dawn
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all lady drivers ,ne... all lady drivers ,never take ur car 4 an MOT because as soon as they see a lady they think lets rip her off. Thats not all garages but it was for the one i used. i had taken my car 4 its MOT and was asked do u want 2 wait or come back so i said id wait. Well 30min later she comes out saying right u have failed on 2 front mounts and some welding on a seal at the front, would u like me 2 book it in 258.50in total. no thanks ill try my garage. When i asked my garage 4 a price he couldn't believe it as none of them things needed doing apart for a small bit of weldling which was gonna cost 40 . He said they were taking the piss. my garage done the welding MOT all 4 80 abit diffrent from 258.50 dont u think. just be careful ladies |
Alan Cheetham
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I am an MOT Tester a... I am an MOT Tester and have been for over 10yrs, you would be horrified at some of the so called well, maintained cars, there are out there. some of them are death traps and people carry children in them and moan about making them road worthy and safe, can you imagine how they would feel if they had an accident after an MOT and guess who gets the blame ? THE TESTER.An MOT Tester (NT) can be held liable for Manslaughter if a vehicle presented for test has an accident after a test. An MOT Tester's job is not an easy one he has no back up from VOSA and gets crucified by them if he misses something. The MOT test is to ensure that the vehicle is SAFE, whether it's a bulb that's out or a ball joint away, or a big hole in a sill, the car FAILS. YOU have the option of taking the car away for repair else where, or for the DIY'er you can do it your self. When a tester does a test from the moment he starts the test he does not work for the garage he is a representive of VOSA when he finishes the test, he is then an employee of the gagage. When a car is failed you only have to pay a partial re-test Fee and have and have 10 days so stop being so tight fisted and make sure your car is safe all year not just for an MOT. Regular servicing helps but then you dont want to pay for that either !!!!!!!!!!!! Appologies to those offended but it gets on my goat, that every car that fails out there is the tester fault. |
richard piesley
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Cal Girard 09... Cal Girard 09 Jan 2008 17:29:03 I agree that MOT testers are charging for unnecessary work. I am charged with something every single time I have my car tested, and I take good care of my car. We as a consumer have no recourse. How can we dispute whether something is necessary? Simple. We can't, and you testers know it. What a rip-off the MOT is. An excuse for garages to make some money. you can do something about it Cal, if your un-happy about an mot test decision you can appeal against the result whether it be a pa*s or fail, ask for a VT17 appeal form. |
Cal Girard
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I agree that MOT tes... I agree that MOT testers are charging for unnecessary work. I am charged with something every single time I have my car tested, and I take good care of my car. We as a consumer have no recourse. How can we dispute whether something is necessary? Simple. We can't, and you testers know it. What a rip-off the MOT is. An excuse for garages to make some money. |
Mark Cornwall
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Information on disho... Information on dishonest tradesmen should be made public, not hidden behind closed doors.My report identified SOME MOT centres rip-off their customers - not all.Garages are in the top 10 complaints to Trading Standards.If the industry does not want reports like mine, put something better in place to deal with the rogue traders in the industry.I fully agree most MOT operators are hard working, honest people.I know many of them very well because many MOT centre operators are customers of Car Parts Direct.I'm not afraid to put my principles before profit by flushing the rogues.So, for operators who are dishonest, "If the cap fits wear it" to the honest operators - no offence intended. |
me
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My car failed on exc... My car failed on excesive smoke because a gararge blocked my air intake and wanted to repair my fuel managment system for hundreds. Nice? fixed it myself for nothing. |
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